Winter is coming in most of India and that means it's time to rake the soil and sow the seeds for a homegrown harvest

As winter approaches, it is the perfect time to get ready to sow different vegetables in your balconies, terraces and kitchen gardens for a winter harvest. In a tropical country like India, most regions have very conducive temperatures in winter for most vegetables, as the heat is not scorching, while there is still plenty of sunlight. Don’t miss out on this bountiful time. Grow the vegetables most suitable to your space so as to have a fresh, organic harvest created by your own hands. Here is what to keep in mind when starting a vegetable garden at home.

Growing your own foodIt’s a joy to see a seed you planted transform into a beautiful fruit on a plant you nurtured and reared. Not only is it deeply gratifying for the soul, the benefits of eating fresh vegetables, grown without industrial-strength chemicals and pesticides, are unmatched.

Even if the harvest in your mini vegetable garden at home is small, the fulfilment is immense – so go ahead and grow whatever you can.

Space is not a constraintFirst of all, assess the space available for your kitchen garden. It could be your balcony, terrace, front porch, backyard, or even small spaces such as a window or a wall that remains sunlit most of the day. Different spaces will determine the choice of what can and can not be grown but everyone can grow something.

You could choose to grow directly in the soil, or on a raised bed, or in pots and containers.

Sunlight makes foodOne of the key elements required by a plant to produce fruits and vegetables is sunlight. Different amounts of sunlight are needed for different varieties of edible plants. So take a look around your house to see which parts remain sunlit and make a sowing plan accordingly. If none of your spaces receive direct sunlight, consider microgreens.

Tender herbs such as rosemary can thrive even in indirect sunlight, whereas fully fruiting plants such as tomatoes, brinjals and so on need at least five to six hours of direct sunlight. Other leafy vegetables, such as spinach and methi (fenugreek), can be grown successfully with just two or three hours of direct sunlight.

If your house receives very little direct sunlight, you can consider growing herbs.

Soil preparationPlants derive all their nutrition from the soil, so having good, well-aerated soil that is full of nutrients is key to the success of growing healthy vegetables.

Mix organic fertilisers, compost, cow dung and other such natural nutrients into your soil. If you are going to grow your vegetables in a pot, add cocopeat as well. A good pot mix would be one-third each of soil, organic fertiliser and cocopeat.

Sourcing seedsThere are many sources of seeds. You can buy them from local nurseries or even try some seeds from the vegetables that you consume in your kitchen. However, the best source of seeds is other gardeners. Find other kitchen gardening enthusiasts from your area and see what they are growing. You can request them for some seeds, as their seeds would be of a locally grown variety and will be well-adapted to that locality’s climate.

Don’t be over-ambitious. Work with nature and see what grows well in your region and plant those seeds.

Nurturing the young plantsBe mindful of your plant’s needs. With careful observation, you will learn to read its signs of health or distress.

Some seedlings will need to be transplanted, whereas others, such as spinach, should not be transplanted. Read up on what are the requirements for each different vegetable, and create a caring routine accordingly. Most people make the mistake of over-watering after sowing. This can dissolve the seed or even the young roots of a plant. Water sparingly and after looking at the dryness of soil. If you are not an experienced gardener, you will make some mistakes. But most mistakes can be salvaged if caught in time.

Protecting the plantsAs the plant starts growing, it might attract some insects, bugs or even fungal growth. Learn to differentiate between harmful and helpful insects. Some creatures, such as bees and butterflies, are important for pollination and in their absence, the flowers won’t convert to fruit, whereas bugs such as mealy bugs, aphids, and so on can harm and even kill the plant. Ladybirds are beneficial, as they eat up aphids.

Watching the vegetables growWhen you have provided the right soil and adequate sunlight, and fulfilled the plant’s needs of watering, pruning and keeping it free from insect pests, Mother Nature will work her magic and convert the tiny seed you sowed into healthy, nutritious food for you and your family.

The best way to understand what the plants need is to observe them daily. Don’t start your kitchen garden in a neglected space. Make a daily appointment with your plants, as they grow from young saplings to tall, green plants laden with flowers and vegetables.

Try, try againIf you are a new gardener, it might take you a few growing cycles to understand the microclimate of your own house and to make a note of what grows successfully and what fails. For example, while you might think that it would be best to grow coriander because it is used daily in your kitchen, it might not be the easiest crop to grow in your house’s microclimate.

Go by your instincts and keep making adjustments. You will hit the sweet spot of knowing what your small kitchen garden is most successful at growing.

Enjoy the fruit of your labourIn about 6-10 weeks’ time, your seeds would have matured into an organic, healthy bounty for you. They will taste different, better, crisper and will be more nutritious overall. Some crops will give a bumper result, while the others a little less than expected. But even a single radish, cut into a salad, will taste divine.

Patience is the key. As you said it takes few growing cycles to understand your microclimate which means a few years, it becomes really frustrating sometimes when you don't get any results of all the hard work. I have been trying since three years and still not succeeded in growing most of the vegetables in good quantity. Spinach was easiest for me. But whatever be the result, the real pleasure is in the process.So keep trying and enjoy gardening, don't worry about the result :)

Use a spade or fork to dig the soil to a depth of 12 to 14 inches, incorporating a 3- to 4-inch layer of compost or rotted manure, along with any amendments recommended in your soil test. Rake the soil until is level. Loose, well-aerated soil allows water and oxygen to reach the plants' roots quickly.